Opinion: Canada must stand up for human rights in China
The gist
China Strategic Risks Institute adviser Margaret McCuaig-Johnston argued in a Globe and Mail opinion piece that Canada must stand up for human rights in China.
The piece lands days after Canada joined a 10-country statement on Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong's 10-year sentence.
How it unfolded
- Oct 23, 2026In Turkey, Prime Minister Mark Carney said his responsibility is human rights in Canada, describing his approach as "values-based realism" and saying "engagement is not approval."
- Nov 6, 2026Canada joined Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the UK and the US in a joint statement condemning Joshua Wong's 10-year sentence under Hong Kong's National Security Law.
- Nov 6, 2026Safeguard Defenders published a report alleging China expanded its network of illegal overseas police stations, identifying nearly 1,250 overseas Chinese associations as suspected fronts in 91 countries.
Key terms
- Liberal MPs
- A major Canadian federal political party positioned at the centre to centre-left of the spectrum.
- NDP MP
- A Canadian federal social democratic political party founded in 1961.
- CCP
- The founding and sole ruling party of the People's Republic of China, founded in 1921.
Source: Wikipedia